Affidavits to be taken from candidates in Panchayat elections also

July 21, 2014 10:50 am

Staff Reporter, Bhopal
On the lines of Vidhan Sabha elections, candidates during ensuing Panchayat general elections will also be asked to submit affidavit along with nomination papers. Non-government organisations will work towards strengthening of local self-government both before and after these elections. These issues were discussed during a meeting of State Election Commission officers with representatives of NGOs over Systematic Education, Nurturing and Sensitisation of Electorates (SENSE) here today.

Commission’s Deputy Secretary Shri Buddhesh Vaidya informed about Panchayat electoral process and programme through a Power Point presentation. He said that NGOs should help prepare error-free electoral rolls. Shri Vaidya informed that only the election of panchas will be held through ballot papers and remaining posts of members of Janpad and Zila Panchayats and sarpanchas through EVMs. Counting will be held at development block, tahsil and district levels. Earlier, counting was held at the polling booth itself. Under Secretary Sushri Sheela Dahima informed that CEOs of Zila Panchayats have been made nodal officers for voter awareness campaign in concerning districts. Demonstrations of EVM operations are being made in general body meetings of Gram Sabhas with a view to apprising Panchayat office-bearers about EVM functioning and operations.

Panchayat electoral rolls on commission’s website

Vaidya informed that photo electoral rolls for ensuing Panchayat general elections will be available on commission’s website in which voters can check their names.

Voter slips will also be distributed to voters. Shri Vaidya also satiated queries of NGO representatives. Master trainer Prof. Sanjay Dixit made a demonstration of EVM.

NGO office-bearers informed that social organisations have chalked out plans to participate in voter awareness campaign in 134 development blocks of 35 districts.

Cooperation of active social organisation will be sought in remaining districts also. For this, a state-level workgroup will be constituted. He informed that efforts would be made to ensure that candidates’ nominations are not rejected and polling percentage is maximum.